Melanesia is situated on the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean. Located in the southern Pacific Ocean, the Melanesia area is comprised of several islands. One thousand islands make up the Arafura Sea, which is in Indonesian waters. It runs from New Guinea in the north across to New Caledonia as well as the waters around it. Melanesia is home to more over 12 million people. Humans have occupied the region for thousands of years. Melanesia, which means “black islands” in Greek, refers to the skin tone of the people who live there. In terms of regional politics, the area is divided into six sovereign states and one colonial dependency.
Languages
The majority of the languages spoken in Melanesia are part of the Austronesian or Papuan family of languages. In one study, there are 1,319 languages spoken in Melanesia, which are scattered across a small area of land. The 716 sq km per culture is the largest number of languages per the landmass of Earth, nearly three times that dense in Nigeria, which is a nation known for its large number of languages within a small region.
Alongside the numerous native languages spoken in the region, indigenous pidgins and creole languages have been developed typically through trade and interaction with cultures for long before European encounters. Particularly notable are Tok Pisin as well as Hiri Motu, both of which are found in Papua New Guinea. They are both now considered distinct creole dialects. The use of Tok Pisin is increasing. It is often used as a first language, particularly by multi-cultural families. Other creoles are Solomon Islands Bislama, Pijin, Papuan Malay, and other related languages.
Geography and Climate
The 2,000 islands of Melanesia have a combined land area of approximately 386,000 sq miles (1 million square kilometers). The vegetation in the region is comprised of forest areas and forests. Melanesia is humid and has a tropical climate throughout the year. The temperatures get even hotter and more humid during the months between November and April. Still, they become cooler and dryer between May and Oct. Melanesia is distinct from Polynesia in the east and Micronesia in the north by a geographic characteristic called the Andesite Line and is where major volcanic activity and earthquakes occur.
Sea Life And Diet
The history of the world records that the numerous communities that were found in the area of Melanesia had trade relationships with one another and even shared a political stance up to 3500 to 3,000 years in the past. Trade-in obsidian and shell ornaments were especially common. The prehistoric Austronesian people who first arrived in Melanesia were equipped with sophisticated technology, which allowed them to become skilled navigators.
The ability of the Melanesians to navigate through the vast oceans of their region has led to their love of fish and other fish in their diet. Even today, fishing is still central to economic activity throughout the region. The old-style Melanesian diet is also comprised of leafy vegetables, root crops as well as coconuts, and fruits. However, globalization’s effects have led Melanesians to alter the way they consume food. Their diets have included more red meat, processed foods, and even processed meat.
